Oh, Christmas. Why is it that I always think you are my favorite time of the year? In reality, the days leading up to the joyous day have me alternating between cowering under the covers hesitant to even face the world, spewing venom and anger for all my frustrations, or maniacally bouncing from one item on my to-do list to another accomplishing nothing.
Instead, this year in an effort to maintain my sanity, I have been saying no to others and myself; I have been switching off the phone when there are tasks to accomplish and sometimes when there's not; I've even been neglecting the social networking that sometimes feels more like work than relief; and I've been doing my very best to ignore the feelings of guilt the first three cause.
Of course, the heavy doses of Christmas music and Mallomars are helping too. And, when things get at their very worst, it never hurts to listen to my 'Cranky Christmas' playlist because sometimes you can just tap out on all the holly jolly.
Cranky Christmas Playlist (on regular holiday rotation since 2007)
-----------------------------------
Green Christmas- Barenaked Ladies
Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)- Sufjan Stevens
Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)- Pearl Jam
Mr. Heat Miser- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Nuttin' for Christmas- Smash Mouth
Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)- John Denver
Santa's Beard- They Might Be Giants
You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch- Boris Karloff
--------------------------------------------------------------
So fill me in. How do you handle the stress and maintain your sanity during the holidays?
